about having to pay the replacement cost of a rental bike stolen from the parking lot of his hotel, will probably get most of his money back in a few weeks.

Wheels executive David Panchaud, whose company rented bikes to the English family, made the prediction yesterday following fierce criticism from Mr.

Phillips.

"Whenever a stolen bike is returned, we refund the customer who paid the replacement fee,'' Mr. Panchaud said yesterday.

"We've had five bikes stolen from customers this year and all of them have been returned intact. I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Phillips' bike turns up in the next day or two.'' Mr. Panchaud, whose company took over the cycle livery in Flatts formerly operated by Astwood Cycles, was commenting on a story in Saturday's Royal Gazette about Mr. Phillips' dissatisfaction with the rental company.

Mr. Phillip's rented bike was stolen from the parking lot outside his room at Brightside Apartments in Flatts, and the next day he was charged $465 to pay for the cycle's replacement.

"I reported the theft to Police and to Astwood's where I rented the bike.

Then they charged me for the cost of replacing it, saying my rental insurance did not include coverage for theft.

"I feel like I've been ripped off,'' Mr. Phillips said, apparently unaware the Flatts livery is now a branch of Wheels Ltd. "It was an interesting story,'' Mr. Panchaud said yesterday. "Mr. Phillips apparently forgot to mention that his daughter, who last used the bike, had left the ignition key in the vehicle overnight.

"It was one of those unfortunate things that happen. Our bikes lock themselves automatically when the key is taken out, but if you leave the key in, it is very easy for the wrong person to ride off with it.'' Mr. Phillips had taken issue with Wheels lack of theft insurance, claiming he was surprised and angry to find he was liable for the replacement of the bike, only after it was stolen. "There is no theft insurance available to us for those bikes and never has been,'' Mr. Panchaud said.

"When we rent them, we tell people to take the keys out, lock them etc. and we make no secret of the policy regarding replacement charges for stolen bikes, but there is only so much you can do,'' he said.

"When the bike turns up, Mr. Phillips will probably get most of his money back. We charge for whatever is missing.

"If the key's gone he'll be charged about 20 or 30 dollars for a new key and lock. If the helmet was missing, he'll be charged for that, so I can't say how much this whole thing is likely to cost him in the end, but I don't think it will be that much,'' Mr. Panchaud said.